Posts Tagged ‘indira gandhi’

Indian populist culture is familiar with, and pays ceaseless, cosmetic tribute to contemporary Khan Dynasties epitomized by Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan & of course Aamir Khan. But what the Indian diaspora fails to recognize is the fact that Khan Dynasties not only rule their movie industry, but their fragile political infrastructure is led by one of the most powerful Khan dynasties on the planet.

The Nehru-Khan Dynasty.

Jawaharlal Nehru was an English aristocrat first, and an Indian freedom fighter second, who happened to take over Indian politics in its nascent state. He was a true statesman, both articulate and charismatic. His daughter was a whole another matter. She was a true authoritarian, chiding and scolding, even punishing state leaders for failure to comply with her dictatorship.

Before she rose to her seat of power, Indira Nehru, as was her maiden name, married Feroze Khan. The surname of Feroze Khan’s Parsi mother was Gandhy, but even then she still hadn’t attained the much coveted political surname. Since you’re reading this, you might as well get to know Maimuna Begum! Her marriage was not well-received by her father, which prompted M.K Gandhi, to mediate the issue. He adopted Feroze Khan, thus gifting him and future generations of Indira’s family, the holy grail of Gandhian nomenclature.

Thus finally we arrive at the year 2013 A.D., with Antonia Maino , aka Sonia Khan, aka Sonia Gandhi reigning over the Indian sub-continent. If we follow the true family nomenclature, we have Rahul Khan, who is touted as successor to the Nehru-Khan Dynasty.

Truth is stranger than fiction…only until you grow measurably familiar with it.